Methods of administering wagering games may comprise accepting a first wager from individual players to play against a dealer. A second wager may be accepted from at least two players to play against one another. A portion of the second wager may be placed in a first pot. A remainder of the second wager may be placed in a second pot. Cards may be dealt to each player and to the dealer. The first wager may be resolved for each player against the dealer. The second wager may be resolved for the at least two players against one another. At least a portion of the first pot may be awarded to at least one player at a conclusion of each round of play. At least a portion of the second pot may be awarded to at least one player holding a predetermined winning hand.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computer-implemented method of administering a wagering game, comprising: providing a gaming table with a gaming surface, a plurality of player areas on the gaming surface, a processor for administering the game, and a card-handling device capable of reading cards, wherein each player area comprises a player display and a user interface in communication with the processor; accepting an indication of at least one first wager to play a first wagering game from at least one individual player at a user interface corresponding to each individual player and displaying each individual player's first wager on a first wager area displayed on the individual player's display; accepting indications of second wagers from each of at least two players to play the wagering game against one another at each of at least two user interfaces, wherein accepting indications of the second wagers comprises allocating a first portion of each second wager to a first pot and a second portion of each second wager to a second pot, an amount of the first pot displayed on a first pot meter and an amount of the second pot displayed on a second pot meter; dealing randomized physical playing cards from the card-handling device to at least each player, wherein the card-handing device receives card rank and suit information by reading the cards, and wherein at least one of the processor for administering the game and another processor coupled to the user interface is further programmed with game rules applicable to the first and second wagers; the processor for administering the game resolving the first wager for each player according to the game rules applicable to the first wager; the processor for administering the game resolving the second wager for the at least two players who played the wagering game against one another according to the game rules applicable to the second wager, wherein at least a portion of the first pot is awarded to at least one player at a conclusion of each round of play by crediting at least one player account with a payout amount; the processor for administering the game awarding at least a portion of the second pot to at least one player holding a winning hand according to the game rules applicable to the second wager by crediting at least one player account with a payout amount; and retaining the portions of the second wagers allocated to the second pot in the second pot when no player holds a predetermined winning hand according to the game rules applicable to the second wagers, making that portion of the second wagers available for a player to win in a future round of play.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the game rules applicable to the first wager require a dealer to receive a hand of cards, and when the player holds a higher ranking hand as compared to the dealer, the first wager is awarded to the player.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of game rules applicable to the second wager comprises identifying a plurality of predetermined winning hands and corresponding payout odds.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising a predetermined winning hand that qualifies the player to win an entire amount of the second pot.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein accepting indications of the second wagers comprises requiring each player to make the second wager to participate in the wagering game.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein accepting indications of the second wagers comprises accepting the indications of the second wagers from fewer than all players participating in the wagering game.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein awarding the at least a portion of the second pot comprises requiring the at least two players have placed the second wager for each round of play subsequent to a round of play during which the second pot was empty to be eligible to be awarded the at least a portion of the second pot.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein awarding the at least a portion of the second pot comprises awarding an entire amount of the second pot.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein awarding the entire amount of the second pot comprises dividing the second pot among at least two players.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein awarding the at least a portion of the second pot comprises awarding fixed-odds payouts comprising a portion of the second pot.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wagering game comprises a five-card poker game or a variant of poker, wherein the game rules applicable to the second wager comprise determining if a player holds a predetermined winning hand of a five-card straight or higher-ranked hand.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wagering game comprises blackjack or a variant of blackjack, wherein the game rules applicable to the second wager comprise determining if a player holds a predetermined winning hand of any hand ranking equal to 21.
13. A gaming table for administering a wagering game, comprising: a playing surface including at least one player interface; at least one dealer interface; and at least one processor programmed to: accept a first wager from individual players to play a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules; accept a second wager from at least two players to play the wagering game against one another according to a second set of game rules; place a portion of the second wager in a first pot; place a portion of the second wager in a second pot; resolve the first wager for each player according to a first set of game rules; resolve the second wager for the at least two players against one another according to a second set of game rules, wherein at least a portion of the first pot is awarded to at least one player at a conclusion of each round of play; generate an instruction to award at least a portion of the second pot to at least one player when the at least one player holds a winning hand according to the second set of game rules; and generate an instruction to retain all remainders of all second wagers in the second pot when no player holds a winning hand according to the second set of game rules, wherein all remainders of all second wagers in the first pot are accumulated for a future round of play.
14. The gaming table of claim 13 , further comprising a player display, wherein the at least one player interface is integrated into the player display.
15. The gaming table of claim 14 , wherein the at least one player interface is a touchscreen interface.
16. The gaming table of claim 13 , wherein the first set of game rules comprises a game against a dealer hand.
17. The gaming table of claim 13 , wherein the first set of game rules comprises a plurality of predetermined winning hands with corresponding payout odds.
18. The gaming table of claim 17 , wherein the second set of game rules defines a predetermined winning hand that pays an entire amount of the second pot.
19. The gaming table of claim 13 , wherein the second set of game rules comprises a five-card poker game, wherein a highest-ranking hand wins the second pot.
20. The gaming table of claim 13 , further comprising a card-handling device capable of reading cards.
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June 9, 2014
December 1, 2015
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